Electric drier



Sept- 8, 1942. E. s. Hmm 2,294,904

ELECTRIC DRIER Filed Jan. 14, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 6 62 60 6 50 f E?Mi 1920 Z22 26 ,HI 59 L- ag/77 i 9 A 92?]46632 Z H62 50 Patented Sept.8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC DRIER Elmer S. Hewitt,Niles Center, lll.

Application January 14, 1939, Serial No. 250,863

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a small, compact, inexpensive and highlyefficient apparatus adapted to discharge, in a desired direction, astream of heatedair for drying or heating purposes. An apparatus of thiskind may be used with advantage in many places-in commercialestablishments, in homes, etc. It will serve equally well as a heatingmedium for a small room, or for drying of hair, clothes, etc.

The present apparatus, which is designed for wall mounting, combineswith great advantage a base with which is associated a cradle whereon iscarried a motor-blower unit. The mounting of the base frame upon thesupporting wall in relation to the mounting of the cradle upon the base,is such as to reduce vibration to a minimum, this being accomplishedthrough the novel means which will be hereinafter explained. In additionI secure over the motor and blower a removable cover which is adapted tobe locked in place by a device which is simple, inexpensive and eiectivefor the purpose. heated air is through a nozzle having a swiveledmounting engaging with both the cover and a housing for the blower, butinsulated therefrom in such a manner as to dampen out vibrations whichare transmitted thereto. In respect of these several features ofconstruction the present apparatus embodies numerous points of advantageand utility all as will hereinafter be explained at length.

A suggestive embodiment of my invention is set forth in the accompanyingdrawings wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through theapparatus in its entirety, taken on line I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a similar View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;`

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section (enlarged) taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one of the connecting bars whichis shown in perspective; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in assembly position of the parts formingthe wedge mechanism by which the cover is secured to the base.

The present machine comprises a base A in the form of a frame which isgenerally rectangular in shape with Walls 9 terminating in a commonplane for fitting against a fixed support B such as a vertical partitionor post. The base frame includes also a web I0 extending inwardly fromeach of its walls, and provided with holes The discharge of to receivetherethrough fastening elements such as bolts II each of which may bethreaded into a wall anchor I2 or other securing device. Beyond the webthe base walls are extended at I4 to define a shallow enclosure.

The base frame is adapted to support upon its web a cradle C whereon ismounted an electric motor D whose shaft carries a direct connectedblower E. As shown, this cradle is in the general form of a triangularframe having its apex at one end connected to the base' by a bolt I5,two other bolts IB and I1 furnishing connections at points about midwayof the length of the base on opposite sides thereof. The details of thecradle mounting will be explained at a later point. Carried by thecradle is one section of a two-part housing F which surrounds theblower, there being large draft openings at opposite ends of the housingeach tted with afrustro conical guide I8 by which to direct incoming airinto the blower as Well as to eliminate much of the noise incident toits operation.

The mounting of the cradle within the base is such as to provide aneffective barrier against the transmission of vibration. For thispurpose there is tted over each connecting bolt adjacent its head I9 acup washer 20 adapted to receive the body of a resilient grommet 2|which bears against the under side of a boss 22 formed on the web of thebase, the upper grommet end being reduced in diameter for entry withinan opening 23 in the boss. On the opposite side of this boss is a secondgrommet 25 having its opposite ends of reduced diameter, one enteringwithin the boss opening 23 and the other within an opening 26 in a boss21 which is provided on the cradle, the body of this grommet beingfitted between the ends of the bosses 22 and 21 to maintain them inspaced relation. A third grommet 28 which rests upon the boss 21 isformed with a reduced end adapted to enter the upper end of the opening26, this last grommet being identical with the one rst described. 'Ihebody of this grommet is conned in part within an inverted cup washer 29against whicha nut 30, manually operable by wings 3| if desired, isadapted to abut. The connecting bolt traverses this entire assembly ofgrommets and washers so that the nut, when tightened, will cooperatewith the head I 9 in exerting a clamping pressure. While each of the`grommets is desirably of resilient material, it is preferred that theone in the center be somewhat harder than the two others. Such anassembly of grommets when used in the mounting for the cradle willprovide an excellent barrier against the transmission of vibrations. Itwill be understood that a similar assembly of washers and grommets maybe: utilized with each of the two remaining connecting bolts.

Secured to the base at a point adjacent the motor is a terminal block 35(see Fig. 2) with openings (not shown) to the exterior so that a plug,in connection with an electrical circuit, may be readily attachedthereto. From the block leads 36 and 31 are extended to arheostat-switch 38 (see Fig. l) with which is associated a controllinghandle 3S, a iixed resistor (Fig. 2) being also included in the circuit,if desired. Since the details of the electrical connections form no partof this invention, further explanation thereof is deemed unnecessary.Suiice to say, by manipulation of the handle 39 the circuit may beclosed or broken so that the motor will operate or stop. The speed ofthe motor operation is controlled by the position of the rheostat handlein the usual way. The motor is shown as bolted at 46 and 61 to thecradle so as to be xedly secured thereto. lhen operated, the blowerwhich may comprise a plurality of parallel vanes arranged peripherallywith its axis will draw in air from its opposite ends for discharge fromthe housing through a nozzle in a manner which will presently beexplained.

I provide for the operating mechanism which is carried by the cradle acover G which comprises end and side walls 50 and 5l, respectively. Tosecure the cover in place in a manner which will eliminate thetransmission of any vibration, I utilize at each end of the base aconnecting bar H of which one end portion is shown in perspective inFig. 5. Each bar is of general T-form with a horizontal wall 52 formedmidway of its length with an inwardly extending hollow boss 53 fromopposite sides of which extends a web 54 proceeding inwardly in avertical plane. Each end of the bar is laterally turned to extend beyondthe web to provide a channel 55 defined in part by a tongue 56. By thisconstruction I provide at each end of the bar a hook. Upon each of theopposite sides of the web 54 is arrangedY a flat strip 51 of rubber 0rother resilient material and when the bar is set in place the lowerstrip will rest upon the upper edge of the base wall I4 and the upperstrip will underlie the lower edge of the cover wall 56 (see Fig. 4)Except at the mid-point of each bar where the hollow boss 53 is formed,these strips are extended continuously from end to end thereof.

To secure the cover flXedly in place, I have provided a wedge lock thecomponents of which are best shown in Fig, 6. This comprises an upperfitting x secured to the inside of the coverl wall 50 in line with asecond tting y therebelow secured to the inside of the base wall I4,there being a third complementary tting e adapted to cooperate with eachof the others. The fitting :r is in the form of a plate 60 from whichextends a pair of wings 6| in substantial parallelism with a shelf 62slantingly arranged therebelow and supported outwardly from the plate asby means of lower wings 63. The lower tting y may be identical with thatjust described, its parts bearing corresponding reference characters,and its position being inverted with respect to the upper fitting zr.The fitting z comprises a plate 65 having two pairs of wings 66 and 61occupying upper and lower positions, respectively, all extended insubstantially parallel relation with. facing inclined edges 68corresponding to the slant of the two shelves 62. The spacing of thewings may be such that they lie closely to the outside of the wings onthe complementary ttings a: and y. The width of the slanting shelves issuch that they will receive engagement frpm the slanting edges of theupper and lower wings on the fitting e', the remaining wings actingmainly as guides to maintain this relationship.

Through the plate 65 of the fitting z is a hole 10 for receiving a bolt1I which is adapted to traverse the hollow boss 53 of the connecting barH, the head 12 of this bolt being slotted, by preference, formanipulation from the exterior of the machine. When the connecting baris fitted in place between the base and cover, this bolt will serve toadvance the tting e' against the ttings :c and y thereby drawing thecover tightly toward the base where it is securely held. Between theends of the base and cover their respective side walls are largely cutaway so as to provide an elongated opening into each of which may befitted a foraminous plate 15 (formed with holes, slots, louvres, etc.)backed by a screen 16, the edges of the plate and screen being restedagainst seats 11 where they are held as by the heads 18 of screws whichare screw threaded into the base and cover walls.

The hooked ends or the bar, as shown, are adapted to engage certainvertical abutments which are formed adjacent these seats. In this Waythe cover is effectively centered and held against lateral displacementwith respect to the base with double resilient strips extendingsubstantially continuously between every portion of their contactingsurfaces. The cover walls are flush with those of the base, therebygiving substantially the effect of a one-piece casing for the entirestructure.

At a point in the outer wall of the cover which is opposite the blower Ihave provided an opening surrounded by an inset flange 8| against whichis seated a gasket 82 of sponge rubber or other appropriate resilientmaterial which engages with the neck portion S3 of a discharge nozzle Ihaving a swiveled mounting on the cover.

As shown, this nozzle is in the general form of an elbow so as topresent its open discharge end laterally. The nozzle at its end adjacentthe neck carries a metallic washer 84 secured as with screws 35 theheads of which are countersunk (see Fig. l). A spacer washer 85 restsupon the Washer 84 so as to confine the gasket 82 in place.

The blower housing comprises xed and removable sections a.- and brespectively, interconnected as by bolts 81, the latter section beingprovided with a discharge opening over which is tted a screen 36 held inplace, if desired, by a iianged washer 89 which is tted over the housingmouth adjacent its discharge opening. The washer 84 carried by thenozzle is adapted to rest upon the flanged washer 89. By this assemblyof parts I provide for the nozzle a swiveled mounting which willeliminate rattles and maintain by friction the nozzle in any adjustedrotative position.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that the axis of themotor and blower is slightly off-center with respect to that of thehousing, thereby providing a space within the housing to the outside ofthe blower for the accommodation of certain heating elements 96 whichmay be mounted upon a base 9i of mica or other suitable material. Theseelements are interconnected electrically with the motor circuit so as tobe energized when the motor is in operation, the heat deliveredtherefrom being drawn into the stream of air which is discharged fromthe blower so that there will issue from the nozzle a constant blast ofair at relatively high temperature.

The apparatus of my invention is designed to operate efficiently atrelatively high speeds, the motor R. P. M. varying from perhaps 1,800 to4,000. Because of the environment in which the apparatus is to be used,it is essential that noise of all kinds, including vibrations, beeliminated as far as possible. This is accomplished by reason of thespecial features of construction hereinbefore described, notably themeans by which the cover is removably amxed to the base, and the meansby which the nozzle is swivelly mounted in the cover. In addition, thetransmission of Vibrations, consequent upon high speed motor operation,is snubbed practically entirely by the special mounting of the cradle onthe base and of the base on its supporting wall. In this connection itwill be noted that the base is connected to its supporting wall at threepoints forming a triangle, and that the cradle is mounted on the base atthree opposite points. It will be noted also that there is completeseparation of the cradle from the base through the use of resilientgaskets so that metal-to-metal contact is wholly avoided, It is foundthat with an assembly of three grommets, one relatively hard and theothers relatively soft, a substantially immovable mounting is obtainedwithout the transmission of vibrations therethrough. Also the wedgemechanism by which the cover is rmly secured to the base has specialadvantage because of the utilization of three complementary elements,two of them alike and the other reversible, all being formable by astamping operation from sheet metal. The lock thus afforded `is onewhich is Wholly concealed, which is operable from the exterior of thecover, and which secures the cover and base tightly upon each other withall possibility of lateral movement avoided. By locking the two wedgemechanisms at opposite ends of the cover it is possible to provide alongeach side large, continuously extending openings for ventilation to theinterior-an important point in order that the blower may have anadequate supply of air for heating and discharge from the nozzle withoutan excess of temperature interiorly of the casing.

I claim:

1. In apparatus as described, a base,l a cradle mounting a motor-blowerunit, and connections between the cradle and base each comprising anapertured lug on the base and, in register therewith, but spacedtherefrom, an apertured lug on the cradle, a grommet tted between thetwo lugs and entered in part .within the apertures thereof and servingto space and center the lugs with respect to each other, a bolt enteredthrough the grommet and extended beyond the two lugs in engagementtherewith, and other grommets surrounding the bolt and each partlyentered within the aperture of one grommet and in engagement with a facethereof opposite the face which is engaged by the grommet rst mentioned,one of the last two grommets lying adjacent the head of the bolt and theother adjacent a nut which is adapted to be screwed upon the oppositeend of the bolt, whereby, upon advance of the nut, all three grommetsare placed under compression with the two lugs rmly clamped and centeredimmovably with respect to each other to secure the cradle xedly to thebase.

2. In apparatus as described, a base, a cradle mounting Ya motor-bowerunit, and connections between the cradle and base comprising boltsextending therebetween with heads and nuts adapted to exert opposingforces, and a plurality of resilient grommets surrounding each bolt, theendmost grommets engaging the base and cradle, respectively, andreceiving engagement from the bolt heads or nuts, and a grommetintermediately of the others engaging both the base and cradle, each ofthe grommets being spaced from the others but adapted, in response tocompressive forces, to be displaced endwise toward the others.

ELMER S. HEWITT.

